2010 State Legislative Wrap-Up Report

February 2010 Special Session

The February special session included an overdue reigning in of the Business Energy Tax Credit, an extension of unemployment benefits and more money for Oregon Opportunity Grants for low-income college students, all of which were supported by Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon. The Senate Human Services and Rural Health Policy committees also held informational hearings on our new five-year plan: "Ending Hunger Before it Begins: Oregon's Call to Action."

Here are some highlights from this session:

Successes

Top Priority: Preserved critical services for people struggling to meet their basic needs during this economic crisis.

Employment-Related Day Care (ERDC): Restored coverage for non-TANF and two-parent families through June of 2011.

Partial Successes

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): Two excellent informational hearings were held in the Senate Finance and Revenue committee, and in the House Human Services Committee with pledges to support the expansion once the economy improves.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program: Two powerful informational hearings laid out the needs in TANF. Additional funding was not added at this time. $30 million was set aside for DHS to help cover the department's potential funding issues during hte rest of the biennium.

More Work Needed

Repeal the Oregon kicker law and create an enhanced rainy day fund: Coming off of an intense campaign on Measures 66 and 67, some legislators, business community representatives and others felt that it was too soon to tackle Kicker reform. We will work to keep it a priority for 2011.

Restore a general assistance short-term bridge loan program for individuals with disabilities: Because of other priorities, this issue was not heard.

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